Record reversing mechanism



-Jllne 27, 1944. F OFFEN RECORD REVERS ING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 27, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 1 flew as@ aia... y./l

//3 h m A 1 June ,27, 1944- F. J. OFFEN 2,352,563

RECORD REVERS ING MEGHANISM Filed Aug. 27, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

June 27, 1944. F` J, OFFEN RECORD REvERsING MEcHANIsM Filed Aug. 27, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 27, 1.944. F, J, OFFEN 2,352,563

RECORD REVERS ING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 27, 1942 4 seets-sneet 4 Patented June 27, 1944 2,352,563 i accom aEvEnsrNc MEcnANTsM Francis mm onen, Swindon, England, signor to Garrard Engineering Company, Limited, Swindon, England, poration of Great Britain Y Manufacturinga cor- Applicatlon Amst 27, 1942, Serial N0. 456,442

Claims.

This invention relates generally to automatic phonographs and similar machines for reproducing sound recorded on disc records, in which a plurality of records assembled in a magazine above the turntable of the machine are successively delivered thereto, and is more particularly directed to a mechanism for reversing the position of a record upon the turntable after the recording on one face Athereof has been rendered, for the reproduction of the recording on the opposite surface thereof and for subsequently removing the record from the turntable for deposit in a suitable storage receptacle.

In United States-Letters Patent No. 2,297,014, granted September 29, 1942. on my co-pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 392,200, filed May '1, 1941, for Magazine phonographs, of which this application is a continuation in part, I have illustrated and described a series of co-related and co-acting mechanisms for automatically reproducing recordings from a plurality of pre-selected disc records, initially stacked above the turntable of the phonograph, in which co-acting mechanisms function for successively delivering the records to the turntable, together with mechanism actuatable from the motor of the machine, in appropriately timed relation to the record delivery and reproducing mechanisms, for operating a record-engaging armv which, in sequence, raises a record that has just .been reproduced from its position upon the turntable to transfer it to another position, eect a reversal of the record and again deliver it to a position for deposit upon the turntable, for the reproduction of the second recording carried thereby.

Specifically, this application is directed to the mechanism described in my aforesaid co-pending application, for reversing the position of a record upon the turntable, after the recording on one surface has been reproduced, for the reproduction of that on the opposite surface of the record and. for subsequently removing the record from the turntable and transferring it to a; storage receptacle, together with certain modifications of such structure, which may be employed in lieu of that shown in my said application, as may be desired or dictated by vconstruction and operation requirements.

The general object of this invention. therefore, is to provide a disc record turning or reversing mecahnism, as aforesaid. which will .be of a slmplified and practical design and most efcient in operation, the means whereby the records are engaged for lifting from the turntable and retained n engaged position during the reversal and retransfer of the record to position for deposit on the turntable, insuring positive support and engagement of the record throughout the cycle of operations thereof.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide a record reversing mechanism, as aforesaid, which will efciently function in conjunction with records of so-termed mixed sizes, as, for example. records of 10" and 12" diameter, intermixed in any preferred arrangement in the initial lstacking of the records for subsequent reproduction.

Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing of my invention will become apparent as the detail description of the preferred embodi. ments thereof, shown in the accompanying drawings, proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an automatic sound reproducing mechanism, as shown in my co-pending application, in which my present inventlon is incorporated, the record-engaging arm thereof, being vshown in the position which it assumes for the reversal of the recordl or for depositing it in the storage receptacle, as the case may be.

Figure 2 is a plan view, similar to Figure 1, in which the record-engaging Varm is shown in dotted lines beneath a record poised above the turntable.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the phonograph mechanism, disclosing the cam'mechanism which functions in the operation of the tone arm, rec ord magazine and record reversing arm.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a detail ofthe actuating mechanism shown in the preceding figure. p

Figure 5 is a view in perspective, partly in section, of the record reversing arm and its actuating mechanism.

Figure 6 is a cross-Sectional view of one of the cams of the latter mechanism, on the line 8-8 of Figure 5. y

Figure 7 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the record reversing arm, as shown in Figure 5,

illustrating the record-gripping members thereof.

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of a modified record-reversing arm assembly, the outer end of the arm being broken off, and

Figure 9 is a plan view of the underside of the record supporting and gripping end of the broken arm shown in the preceding gure.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in which like characters of reference are employed to designate similar parts in the several views,

the phonograph, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, comprises a pick-up arm 3l mounted above the motor-board 32, for movement across the turntable 33. provided with the usual pin (not shown) for centering the records thereon. The records are initially stacked in a magazine composed of a plurality of spaced vanes 33, the records being maintained concentric to the turntable by a vertically adjustable rod dependent from the arm 40 which is suitably supported from the motorboard, the upper end of the rod embodying a knob 4| whereby the rod may be raised Vto facilitate the stacking of the records in the magazine.

A feeler arm is rotatably mounted for its roller B2 to engage the edse of ya record Dositioned upon the turntable to detect the size of such record, a suitably mounted shut-down arm 53 being adapted for engagement by the edge of the lowermost record in the magazine for controlling the functioning of the motor switches, appropriate knobs I4, 53, 53 and l1 being provided on said motor-board for selectively operating the phonograph.

The system of cams for operating the various mechanisms, including that for actuating the record-reversing arm. is shown in Figures 3 and 4, the shaft 0l being driven by the record-changing motor (not shown) through reduction gearing indicated at 0|. which, in turn. drives pinion 62 in mesh with the gear 33, secured to said shaft 00. 'I'he other end of the latter shaft is provided with a small gear 34 driving pinion 05 keyed to the stub shaft 60. A series of cams, collectively indicated at 01, are mountedon said stub shaft 06 which operate pick-up arm 30, the feeler arm and suitable switch mechanism (not shown).

As long as the motor functions, it will drive the cams 41 through the aforesaid gears 02, i3, 64 and 35. Cam sleeve Il embraces the shaft l0 and is adapted to be coupled thereto by the clutch 205, the cam group, indicated at 10, secured to the cam sleeve 63. serving to control the movements of the record changing mechanism, including the recordreversing arm 42. The ratio of gears 62, 03, 04

and 65 provides for two revolutions of the cams of group 01 per cycle, while the cams in group 10 revolve but once in each cycle.

The aforesaid record reversing arm 42 is rotatably mounted in a sleeve 43 carried by the casing 44 mounted for horizontal rotation on the aforesaid motor-board 32, as and in the manner hereinafter described. E1evators141 and 40 are reciprocably mounted on said motor-board for functioning in the delivery of a record to the turntable from the magazine, and are adapted to cooperate with said record reversing arm for permitting the latter to engage a record for reversal and redeposit upon the turntable. as will become apparent, a record-supporting arm l0 being mounted to. swing into position at a predetermined point in the delivery of a record to the turntable, to cooperate with the vanes 36 in supporting the remaining stacked records.

Upon the completion of the reproduction of the recording on one surface of a record, the elevators 41 and 48 rise to lift the record from the turntable and permit the arm 42 to swing beneath the record, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the

elevators then receding to impose the record upon said arm, in engagement with the lateral end extensions 45 and cooperating offset 45a, which provide a three-point support for the record beyond the central zone thereof. The functioning of the record-gripping mechanism 40 now effects a rigid interengagement of the arm with the 75.

record, through the medium of. an expandable pin which is entered in the center aperture of the record when deposited on said arm, the oppositely actuatable sections of the pin being indicated at |4| and |42. The arm is then swung to a position above the receptacle ||3 and rotated on its axis degrees to reverse the position of the record from that which it had previously assumed upon the turntable, the arm then returning to its position above the turntable. 'I'he record which is now supported from the underside of the arm, in engagement with said expandable pin, is then released by the contraction of said pin, to drop to the turntable, in position upon the pin 34 thereof, the elevators 41 and 43 remaining in their lowermost position.

The record reversing arm 42 remains above the turntable during the functioning of the pick-up arm upon the surface presented thereto by the reversal of the record, as Just described, and when the reproduction is completed. the elevators again rise to lift the record to a position immediately below said arm for the entry of the expandable pin in expanding engagement with the center hole thereof, the arm then swinging outwardly over the receptacle i I3 for the release of the record thereinto, upon the contraction of said pin, the record delivery mechanism functioning to effect the delivery of another record to the turntable, to repeat the cycle of operations.

In the structure shown in Figures 5 and 7, the arm 42 rotates 180 degrees about its axis within the sleeve 43 in the reversal of the record carried thereby. This rotative movement is imparted to the arm by the rack ||0 secured to the upper end of the vertical pull rody |1 in mesh with the pinion H5, fixed to the inner end of said arm 42 within the casing 44, the ra'ck being reciprocated to effect a complete turnover of said arm 42 in one movement of the rack and to rotate the arm back to its initial position in the opposite movement thereof. The vertical movement of pull rod |1 is obtained through a further` rack and pinion. A rack ||3 embraces slee/ve |20, and is slidable thereon. Rack H0 meshes with pinion |2| secured toshafti22. Rack ||3 bears plate |23 on which pull-rod |I1 is flxedly mounted. Spring |25 bears against a shoulder on pull-rod 1, and against plate |23.

'I'he oscillating movement of the record reversing arm 42 is derived by a corresponding rotary movement of the casing 44 and the sleeve 43. For this purpose casing 44 has a depending sleeve |20. A pinion |3| secured to sleeve |20 meshes with a rack |32. The reciprocatory movement of rack |32 is secured by crank lever |33 attached to shaft |34. Crank lever |35 is secured to shaft |34, and engages with camgroove |36 of cam |31. Cam |31 is also secured to cam sleeve 68 and rotates in unison with cam |30. Figure 6 is a detail cross-sectional view through cam |31. Crank lever |33 is not rigidly connected with rack |20, but is slidable thereon. 'Ihe rocking movement of crank lever |33 is transmitted to rack |32 by springs |30 and |40, to insure a smooth oscillating movement by record reversing arm 42. It will now be evident that rotation of cam |31 rocks crank lever |33, which in turn rocks crank lever |33. vRack |32 is thus displaced to the left or to the right, which in turn causes a corresponding rotation of casing 44.

Each record is adapted to be gripped by levers 46 having integrally formed segmental protuberances adjacent their free ends adapted to coact to engage with the central hole of a record, as.

Spring |44 embraces the outer ends of the levers 45 tending to pull them together.

When tapered end |41 of I sliding shaft |40 is displaced to the right, segmental portions I4I, |42 are forced apart as seen in Figure 7. When sliding shaft |48 is moved to the left, spring |40 pulls segmental portions |4|, |42 together for the record releasing position. The rear end of sliding shaft |40 has a head |50 which engages with.

bell crank lever I5I. Bell cranky |5| is operated by the upper end of a vertically slidable pull rod |52 which reciprocates within vertical sleeve |20. Slidabie pull rod |52 is operated by crank |53 secured to one end of shaft |54. The other end of shaft |54 bears another crank |55 which is engaged by projection |56 on lever |51 pivoted intermediate its length at |53. The free end of lever |51 is engaged by projections |50 on cam |5| secured to cam sleeve 68.

When cam IGI rotates in unison with cams |30 and |31, its projections |60 rock lever |51 in a clockwise direction. The rocking move- 'ment of lever |51 causes rotation of shaft |54 in a counter-clockwise direction, which in turn lifts pull-rod |52 through crank |53. When pull rod |52 fmoves upwards, its rocks bell crank lever |5|, causing a movement of sliding shaft |43 supported on the underside of the arm 42, (see Figure 7) towards the left. The movement of slid- -ing shaft |48 in the 'opposite direction is obtained by 4a spring, I48a surrounding the shaft I43'and interposed between the stop I48b, rigid therewith, and a xed part of the sleeve 43.

In the modified construction of Figures 8 and 9,-' the underside of the arm 42 is grooved to form a guideway 2 for a rod 3 carrying lugs 4 and spaced longitudinally thereof, adjacent its outer end,V for actuating the jaw members 5 and 1, pivoted within the head 8, as at 9 and I0. Each of these jaw members carries a segment of what may be termed an expandable pin, corresponding to the pin of the structure of Figures 5 and 7, the pin segments being indicated by the reference numerals II and I2, the head of the arm embodying lateral projections and a cooperating offset 45a for supporting a record in engagement with the aforesaid expandable pin. At its inner end, the rod 3 is offset for connection to the plunger I3, for conjoint linear movement,

said'plunger being concentric with and extending through the bearing end 42al of said arm 42, whereby said rod may be reciprocated to expand and contract said record-engaging pin segments, as hereinafter described.

The bearing end 42a of said arm 42 is mounted 'in' suitable ball bearings 42h for rotation withinthe sleeve 44a, mounted in the laterally projecting sleeve 43 of the casing 44 which is superimposed upon the motor-board 32 lfor relative rotative movement on the ball bearings 44h, the

'rotative movement being imparted thereto by the actuation of the rack |32 in engagement with the pinion |3|, fixed to the sleeve I4 rigidly connected to said casing 44 at its upper end, similarly to the construction of Figures 5 and "l, suitable ball bearings I5 being interposed between said pinion I3| and the lower cylindrical portion I0 oi' the underhousing |1 of the assembly.

A push rod I0, corresponding to the rod |52 of the structure of Figures 5 and?, is similarly actuable by the cam |53, the upward movement of the rod I3, in engagement, at its upper end, with the cam lever I3, pivotally mounted in 4the bearing 20, and abutting upon the inner end of said plunger I3, tending to rock said cam lever to urge said rod 3 in the direction of the head of the arm 42, in opposition to the spring 2|, to cause said lug 4 t0 traverse the opposed inclined jaw surfaces with which it is engaged. The resultant spreading of the jaws inmrdly oi'` their pivots, produces a. counter directional movement of the outer ends thereof, to mate the opposedsurfaces yof the pin-forming segments I| and |2. Conversely, the downward movement of said push rod I8, permits the rod 3 to move in the opposite direction, under the influence of said spring 2| in engagement with the end wall of the recess 42e of the arm- 42 and the lug 3a fast to the rod 3, the 3am lever I9 following the push rod in its downward movement, in engagementL with the inner end of said plunger I3.` This reverse movement of the rod 3, as will be evident, will produce a spreading of the forward ends of the jaws 6 and 1, as their opposed chamfered surfaces are engaged by the lug 5, to expand the pin-forming segments II and I2 into engagement with the center aperture of a record, the lug 4 becoming ineffective upon the inner ends of said jaws, as will be obvious. The spring 2| is effective at all times, to maintain said cam lever I9 in engagement with both said push rod and said plunger, to eliminate lost motion in their conjoint movement.

Atits inner end, the bearing portion 42a of the arm 42 is provided with a ring gear 22, or otherwise suitably formed with teeth, to mesh with the rack II5 on the upper end of the pull rod II1, the said plunger I3 being reciprocable through said gear, in engagement with the rockable cam lever I9, as described.

The pull rod I |1 corresponds to {ts counterpart in the structureof Figures 5 and 7, and is likewise reciprocated in the rotative movement of the pinion I2I in engagement with the rack I|0 to which said pull rod is connected for conjoint movement, as already described.

The operation ofthe record reversing arm 42 of the modified construction just described, corresponds'to that of the record turning arm of Figuresk 5 and 7, as will be manifest, the arm moving into position beneath the elevator raised record, in response to the actuation of the pinion I3| in engagement with the rack |32, for the expansion of the pin segments into frictional engagement with the center aperture thereof, as the rod 3 is actuated by the spring 2|. The arm then swings to a position above the receptacle II3, in a reverse movement of the rack |32, following the retraction of the elevators from their directional movement of the rack |32 in mesh with the pinion I3I, for the release of the inverted record from the underside of the arm to the turntable, as the pin segments |I and l2 are contracted out of engagement with the orifice of the record, by the push rod actuation of the cam lever I3, in engagement with the plunger I3.

The arm remains in position above the turntable following the release oi' the inverted record, until the reproduction of the record is completed, when the recordA is again elevated into engagement with the arm poised thereabove for the expansion of the pin segments in engagement with the record aperture. the arm, in timed relationfto the retraction of the elevators, again .swinging to its position above the'receptacle III as the rack |32 becomes eective to rotate the pinion I3| for actuating thearm to the latter position, theA push rod then functioning to impe] the rod in the direction ofthe head of the arm to eifect the disengagement of the pin segments from the record, to permit the record to drop into said receptacle. Following the discharge of the record into the receptacle, the arm is again rotated on its longitudinal axis, in a reverse directional movement of the pull rod Il'l and its rack IIS in engagement with the pinion IIS, to locate the pin-forming segments in lposition for entry in engagement with the central aperture of an elevated record, when lowered into engagement withV said arm, when the arm is again returned to .its record receiving position ,above the turntable.

While, for the purposes'of this disclosure, I have described the record reversing arm and actuating mechanism, as incorporated in a phonograph of the type shown in my co-pending application, it will be understood that the 'present invention may be employed inconiunction with other record delivery mechanisms and such means as" may be preferred for operating the pick-up arm, with appropriate mechanism for functioning the record-reversing arm, as herein described, in co-relation to the operation of such record delivery and reproducing mechanisms.

i Also, changes` in details of the structure set forth.

may be effected to meet different production and installation requirements, within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I Claim:

of said support rotating mechanism, means operative on said arm when'it comes to rest in the latter position for rotating said arm on its longitudinal axis to inve'rt said arm and said record engaged by said gripping means, whereby the record is dependently supported from said arm. said support rotating means sequentially operable to again move said arm to its position above the turntable and spring means, etl'ective for contracting said gripping means, for\releasing the dependently supported record from said arm for redispositin on said turntable.

f A l, Mechanism for reversing a disc record, in`

the operation of a phonograph embodying a turntable and means for liftinga record from the turntable, to admit of the reprod` i tion of the recordings on both surfaces of a record, said mechanism comprising a record carrying arm, a rotatably mounted support therefor, said arm being mounted on said support for rotative movement on its longitudinal axis relative to said support,

mechanism for rotating said support to move said arm laterally in opposite directions. to alternately locate the free end of said arm above the turntable and in 'a second position remote from the 3 turntable. `record gripping means adjacent the outer end of said arm including a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said arm for opposite arcuate movement, each of said levers embodying a segmental protuberance at its outer end, said protuberances being adapted to enter the central aperture of a record for frictional engagement therewith to connect the record to said arm for movement therewith, lever-actuating means reciprocably mounted on said arm, means movable axially of said support operable when said arm is interposed between a lifted record and said turntable to become effective on said lever-actuating means to oppositely actuate said levers in a direction to expand said protuberances into frictional engagement with the record aperture to grip the record for the movement of said arm and the record superimposed thereon to the aforesaid second position, in response to the operation 2. A mechanism for 'reversing disc phonographic records, including a record carrying arm, a support therefor, said arm projecting laterally of said support and being connected thereto for rotative movement on its longitudinal axis, mechanism for oppositely rotating said support to dispose said arm above the turntable of a phonograph and in a position remote from such turntable, in alternating movements of said support, means adjacent the outer end of said arm for gripping a record to be carried thereby, said means including a pair of elements pivotally mounted on said arm for opposite arcuate movement having projections adapted to enter the ment with such aperture to release a record, a

push rod mounted for vertical reciprocation within said support, a pivotally connected member between said push rod and said actuator rod for positively actuating said latter ro'd in one direction, a pinion rigid with the inner end of said arm, a rack in mesh with said pinion, means for reciprocating said rack to oppositely rotate said arm on its longitudinal axis and a system of cams for actuating said support rotating mechanism, controllingthe movement of said elements and the concurrent like directional movement of said record gripping means into and out of efi'ective position and actuating said rack for effecting the axial rotation of said arm in timed relation to move said arm to position above the turntable beneath a record raised therefrom with said projections in uppermost position, grip the record, then move the arm to the aforesaid remote position, invert the record in engagement with said arm to a dependently supported position in the axial rotation of said arm, then return the arm and dependently supported'record to position above the turntable to release the record thereto in the timed spring-actuated movement of the record gripping means to non-effective position, immobilizing the arm above the released record for reengaging actuation of the record gripping means therewith with said projections in dependent position, when the record is raised beneath said arm, again transferring the arm and the dependently supported record to said remote position and effecting the release of the record in a releasing movement of said recordl 3. In a record-changing mechanism for phonographs playing central apertured records, an arm for gripping, moving and releasing records, means operably connected with one end of said arm for moving the same, record-gripping means mounted adjacent the other end of said arm and including a pair of levers, each pivotally mounted on said arm for radial and opposite movement, a segmental protuberance at the furthermost end of each lever, said protuberances being adapted to enter the central aperture of a record, a mechanism for actuating said levers respectively to displace the same in a direction to expand the protuberances into frictional engagement with the dening walls of the record aperture to grip the record and to displace said levers in a direction to contract said protuberances out of frictional engagement with said record to release the record, said mechanism including a reciprocating member movable between said levers and an associated spring chargeable by said reciprocating member in its displacement in one direction, means operable for longitudinally moving said reciprocating member to displace said levers in one direction with respect to the deiining walls of the central aperture of the record and to charge the spring, said charged spring, upon withdrawal of the last-mentioned means, serving to reverse the directional movement of the reciprocating member and the directional displacement of the levers with respect to the defining walls of the record.

4. In a record-changing mechanism for phonographs playing central apertured records, an arm for gripping, moving and releasing records, means operably connected with one end of said arm for moving the same, record-gripping means mounted adjacent the other end of said arm and including a pair of levers, each pivotally mounted on said arm for radial and opposite movement, said levers being disposed in parallelism, each having oppositely directed sets of bearing surfaces formed along their juxtaposed edges, a segmental protuberance at the furthermost end of each lever, said protuberances being adapted to enter the central aperture of a record, a mechanism for actuating said levers respectively to oppositely radially displace the same in a direction to expand the protuberances into frictional engagement with the deiining walls of the record aperture to grip the record and to oppositely radially displace said levers in a direction to contract said protuberances out of frictional engagement with said record torelease the record, said mechanism including a. reciprocating member movable between said levers and an associated spring chargeable by said reciprocating member in its displacement in one direction, said reciprocating member having coniormations to respectively cooperate with the one and, the other set of juxtaposed bearing surfaces on said levers,

means for moving said reciprocating member in one direction whereby the respective levers are jointly displaced in one of the two directions relative to the defining walls of the central aperture o f the record and the spring becomes charged, said spring, upon withdrawal of said last-named means, serving to displace the reciprocating member in the opposite direction, whereby the respective levers are jointly displaced in the reverse direction relative tothe defining walls of the central aperture of the record.

5; In a record-changing mechanism for phonographs playing central apertured records, an arm for gripping, moving and releasing records, means operably connected with one end of said arm for moving the same, record-gripping means mounted adjacent the other end of said arm and including a pair of levers, each pivotally mounted on said arm for radial and opposite movement,

said levers being disposed in parallelism, each having oppositely directed sets of bearing surfaces formed along their juxtaposed edges, a segmental protuberance at the furthermost end of each lever, said protuberances being adapted to enter the central aperture of a record, a mechanism for actuating said levers respectively to oppositely radially displace the same in a direction to expand the protuberances into frictional engagement with the dening walls of the record aperture to grip the record and to oppositely radially displace said levers in a direction to contract said protuberances out of frictional engagement with said recordvto release the record, said mechanism including a reciprocating member movable between said levers and an associated spring chargeable by said reciprocating member in its displacement in one direction, a plurality of longitudinally spaced projections on said reciprocating member respectively cooperating with the one and the other set of juxtaposed bearing surfaces on said levers to radially displace the levers jointly about their respective pivotal mounting points, means for moving said reciprocating member in one directionwhereby one of the projections thereon contacts with one of the sets of opposing bearing surfaces of the levers to radially displace the levers jointly in one of the two directions relative to the defining walls of the central aperture of the record and the spring being charged, said spring, upon operative withdrawal of said last-named means, serving to displace the reciprocating member in the opposite direction, whereby the other projection thereon contacts the other set of bearing surfaces of the lever kto radially displace the levers jointly in the reverse direction relative to the dening walls of the central aperture of the record.

FRANCIS JOHN OFFEN; 

